LiLbaconboss

There is a lot of intriguing conversation my thought has sparked. I want to reply individually to all; however, my skills in formulating coherent text are lacking, so I'll try to respond in a more general and clear manner so I don't go in circles. 1: I understand how difficult it would be to code/implement all that is required for a comprehensive space age development. I openly acknowledge I could not make this happen. However, it would be cool. 2: I don't prescribe to the idea of a linear technological development. Just because, in historical terms, we did not have proper guns till about the 15th century does not mean it was impossible beforehand. For example, the Romans did have access to both steel, steam power, and complex clockwork and gear systems. However, they never used large amounts of steel tools, powered mechanisms by steam (for any industrial purpose), and they didn't make use of clocks or other mechanical devices. This is all despite having, in some capacity, those tools. TLDR, technology is not linear (in all cases); it's more about the accumulation of knowledge and applying that knowledge in innovative ways. 3: Vintage Story does have some level of automation that is in proportion to the technology available. If one added more complex tech, one could see further automation within that same proportion of tech. 4: To my knowledge, Seraphs are functionally immortal (can't die of old age), so even if it all had to be done by hand, the passage of time would functionally not matter. 5: The game is neither strictly Stone Age nor medieval, as it has what basically amounts to magic with the gears and Rust Dimension that propelled the original humans far further technically than would be compatible with either age. 6: Vintage Story is not trying to tell a historical recreation of events from the 4th-8th century. It's trying to tell an alternative history that implements basically magic (at least this is my interpretation of how the game is). I think that is everything I wanted to say. I do apologize if this was a thoroughly incoherent and maddening experience. I tend to only write in a technical manner (example: lab books/manuals; less literary interpretation, more solid fact).

I would like to second this. I was not intending to say in any way the game is lacking or bad because it does not or won't have any significant technological development. Rather, I wanted to express my love of how satisfying the game loop is and how I think it could be expanded to include far more complex tech trees (if that makes sense).

I literally couldn't build a rocket capable of carrying a payload larger than a walnut into the thermosphere in real life. But I can spend hundreds of hours in a game sending an entire person to the Moon. The challenge in the game gives me the satisfaction that is a fraction of an actual accomplishment. (Not to say hobby rockets are not really cool or lack any satisfaction. I just don't have the time or money to do that hobby, and I'm not too sure on local regulations as to launching a small rocket into the sky.)

It's satisfying because it's tedious and difficult. To quote a great man: "Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger Seraph" modified JFK quote, I grew up playing Minecraft, but the progression loop is easy, even with more difficult mods. However, in Vintage Story, even if you're particularly good, the power creep is small. Even when you reach steel, you're not suddenly able to mow through mountains. It's much more grounded, and to me that's why building a rocket is so appealing: it's the culmination of all that work.

I've played this game for 500 hours or more, so not too much, and over that time I've wanted one small thing: to go to the Moon (or at least low Earth orbit). Many people would say, "Why not just play a game that's themed around space travel?" But none of those games are as satisfying in terms of progression as Vintage Story. I just want to Dr. Stone my way to space. I want to spend 1,000 hours building a single rocket carrying an unmanned satellite. If I had the money, I would pay a team of modders to build out the infrastructure of mods needed to eventually lead to spacecraft construction, however im a broke college student, I hope someone with either the money or the modding skills, and a similar passion, has the same thought. (I have not made or interacted with any community posts before, but I felt the need to share this idea. If this isn't the right place for that, please let me know.)